Rangers-Kings Stanley Cup Final Game 4: Live Score, Highlights & Analysis

End of Third Period, Rangers win 2-1

The Rangers have survived and will try to extend the series again Friday night in Game 5 back in Los Angeles. The Kings lead the series 3-1.

Third period, 19:00, 2-1 Rangers: The Kings redirected a shot past Henrik Lundqvist and the puck sat on the goal line and stayed out. Derek Stepan gloved the puck into Lundqvist for the faceoff. Jonathan Quick has left the net for the extra attacker.

[tweet https://twitter.com/PeteBlackburn/status/476920743666937857 align=”center”]

Third period, 18:00, 2-1 Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist makes two great saves in the crease and covers up for the faceoff. The Kings are living in the attacking zone right now but the Rangers are doing a good job of blocking shots and keeping the shots to the outside.

Third period, 14:00, 2-1 Rangers: The Kings are dominating puck possession and the shot total but they still trail by one goal.

[tweet https://twitter.com/cmasisak22/status/476917979582853120 align=”center”]

Third period, 9:55, 2-1 Rangers: Marian Gaborik made a centering pass to the slot and Tyler Toffoli is unable to beat Henrik Lundqvist, who makes a tremendous save.

[tweet https://twitter.com/KatieStrangESPN/status/476916579373178882 align=”center”]

[tweet https://twitter.com/CJ_Stevenson/status/476917367138570240 align=”center”]

Third period, 8:03, 2-1 Rangers: New York has been defending for almost the entire period. Los Angeles is making an incredible effort to tie the game.

[tweet https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/476915320138256385 align=”center”]

Third period, 4:10, 2-1 Rangers: Dustin Brown was unable to lift the puck on a shot from the outside of the crease and Henrik Lundqvist makes a tremendous save. The Kings are dominating puck possession and spending a ton of time in the attacking zone.

Third period, 4:01, 2-1 Rangers: The Kings are the faster, more physical team to start this period. They can smell the Stanley Cup.

Third period, 0:01, 2-1 Rangers: We’re underway in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Is this the last period of the season?

End of Second Period, 2-1 Rangers

The Kings have dominated the third period this postseason. Another good performance will give them a championship.

Second Period, 18:55, 2-1 Rangers: Jeff Carter used his speed to create a breakaway scoring chance, but he was denied by Henrik Lundqvist, who will need to be perfect for the Rangers to protect this lead.

Second Period, 17:32, 2-1 Rangers: The Rangers have killed off the penalty. The Kings registered four shots on goal with the man advantage.

[tweet https://twitter.com/stevezipay/status/476906904829321216 align=”center”]

Second Period, 15:32, 2-1 Rangers: Dominic Moore is going to the penalty box for cross checking and the Kings will get another power play.

Second Period, 12:42, 2-1 Rangers: Mats Zuccarello is denied on a wraparound attempt by Jonathan Quick, then sent the rebound over the the glass and into the protective netting.

Second Period, 8:46, 2-1 Rangers: Dustin Brown has scored on a breakaway and the Kings are on the scoreboard. On the next LA rush up ice, Jeff Carter had a partial breakaway but he was denied by Henrik Lundqvist.

Second Period, 6:34, 2-0 Rangers: The Rangers are headed back to the power play. Tyler Toffoli received a minor penalty for slashing. New York is 0-for-2 with the extra skater tonight.

Second Period, 6:27, 2-0 Rangers: Martin St. Louis had doubled the Rangers’ lead with his second goal of the series. The Rangers have lost both games in which they’ve led 2-0 in this series.

[tweet https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/476902566614544385 align=”center”]

Second Period, 4:22, 1-0 Rangers: Jonathan Quick just made two more amazing saves in the crease. He’s brought his A-game tonight.

Second Period, 4:14, 1-0 Rangers: Jonathan Quick makes a huge glove save on the penalty kill, stopping a John Moore shot from the right faceoff circle. Drew Doughty and Benoit Pouliot got matching minors for roughing after the play

Second Period, 2:14, 1-0 Rangers: Willie Mitchell is off to the penalty box for hooking Brian Boyle. The Rangers are going back to the power play. They are 0-for-1 tonight.

Second Period, 2:00, 1-0 Rangers: Kings create a 3-on-2 scoring chance but Henrik Lundqvist makes another stellar save. The Kings have begun this period with great speed, energy and physicality.

Second Period, 1:01, 1-0 Rangers: Marian Gaborik beats Henrik Lundqvist but the puck hit the crossbar and bounced into the netting above the glass.

End of First Period, 1-0 Rangers

Notable Stats

Shots On Goal: Kings 11-7

Hits: Rangers 13-9

Faceoffs: Kings 20-4

Powerr play: Both 0-for-1

First period, 19:58, 1-0 Rangers: The Rangers had a chance to score another goal in the final seconds of the period but Jonathan Quick made two saves in the crease as the net was knocked off its pegs.

First period, 19:00, 1-0 Rangers: Kings have a 9-5 shot advantage and are spending a lot of time in the attacking zone, but they haven’t been able to beat Henrik Lundqvist yet. Most of their shots are from the outside.

First period, 14:41, 1-0 Rangers: Tanner Pearson drove hard to the net and skated past two Rangers defensemen for a great scoring chance, but his backhand shot was saved by Henrik Lundqvist.

[tweet https://twitter.com/drosennhl/status/476890626395766784 align=”center”]

First period, 13:41, 1-0 Rangers: The Rangers kill off the penalty and we’re back to even strength.

First period, 11:41, 1-0 Rangers: The Kings nearly tied the game. Alec Martinez’s shot from the right faceoff circle got under the five-hole of Henrik Lundqvist and slid all the way to the goal line, where Rangers D-man Anton Stralman cleared it.

[tweet https://twitter.com/GoldAndOrSmith/status/476888930198237184 align=”center”]

First period, 11:19, 1-0 Rangers: Mats Zuccarello sent the puck over the glass in his own zone for a delay of game penalty. The Kings are going on the power play for the first time in this game. They have scored with the extra skater in each of the last two games.

First period, 11:19, 1-0 Rangers:

[tweet https://twitter.com/DennisTFP/status/476887857601470464 align=”center”]

[tweet https://twitter.com/BComptonNHL/status/476887912488116224 align=”center”]

First period, 7:25, 1-0 Rangers: Benoit Pouliot has opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the playoffs. He deflected a John Moore shot from the point. The Rangers are 0-2 in this series when scoring first.

First period, 6:41, 0-0: The Rangers got two or three shots on net from the slot but they couldn’t elevate the puck over Jonathan Quick, who made a few great saves.

First period, 5:23, 0-0: The Rangers are going on the power play for the first time tonight after Willie Mitchell high sticked Derek Dorsett.

First period, 4:44, 0-0: Jake Muzzin just went hard into the boards and hit his face on the glass. The Kings D-man got up slowly but appears to be OK. Kings have a 3-1 shots on goal edge so far.

First period, 3:03, 0-0: The Kings are controlling possession of the puck and have fired nearly 10 shots at Henrik Lundqvist, although several of them have missed the net.

Also, Rangers center Brad Richards has been demoted to the fourth line to start the game.

First period, 0:01, 0-0: Game 4 is underway!

8:15 p.m. ET: Starting lineups

[tweet https://twitter.com/AGrossRecord/status/476879315372498944 align=”center”]

[tweet https://twitter.com/AGrossRecord/status/476879475339444224 align=”center”]

7:40 p.m. ET: The teams are on the ice for warmups.

7:35 p.m. ET:

[tweet https://twitter.com/MikeKellyNHL/status/476870132552433665 align=”center”]

7:00 p.m. ET: The Kings will be ready for a champagne celebration if they complete the sweep tonight.

[tweet https://twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils/status/476815914701455360 align=”center”]

6:15 p.m. ET: The Stanley Cup will be in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Kings have a chance to eliminate the New York Rangers in a four-game sweep and claim the best trophy in sports for the second time in three seasons.

The Rangers are 10-2 in their last 12 elimination games, including a 4-0 mark in this postseason. They overcame a 3-1 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2, but the Kings are a much more balanced and deeper opponent.

Los Angeles dominated Game 3 in a 3-0 victory highlighted by the fantastic performance of goaltender Jonathan Quick, who made 32 saves for his ninth career playoff shutout. If Quick has another dominant game, the Rangers will be in trouble because their offense has dried up over the last four periods of regulation (zero goals). New York top-six forwards including Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis have combined for just one goal through three games. The Rangers’ season will end in Game 4 if these players fail to find the back of the net and/or create scoring chances consistently.

Check back to this live blog for live score updates, instant analysis and video highlights of Game 4. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.